Sash balance



July 22, 1952 E. H. BROWN sAsH BALANCE Filed oct. 27, 1947 ATTORNEY Patented July. 22,1952

Edward H. Brown, Grand Rapids, Michgassignor V to Grand Rapids Hard Rapids, Mich.

ware Company, Grand Application October 27, 19474, vSeria'lNo'. 782,306

vThis invention relates to improvements in a sash balance.

` The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a sash balance vincluding a rotating element having a spiral groove-like track rand a torsion member in which the torsion member and the track are provided with a very effective driving connection adapted to minimize the tendency of the track follower to wedgingly engage'thetrack, thereby tending to force it out of engagement or to make it inoperative.

Second, to provide a sash balance which is highly eflicient and in which the tension of the 10 Claims. (Cl. 16-197.) f

spring may be effectively engaged and at the,

same time comprising parts which are economicaly to produce and maybe economically assembled without the aid of any particularly skilled labor.

lThird. to provide a sash balance which per-` mits rapid andeasy installation.

Fourth, to provide mounting or attaching brackets for sash balance which may be attached without the use of screws and without weakene-y ing the sash; in fact, serving to reinforce the mortise and tension joints ofthe sash members.

Fifth, to provide a sash balance with mountingbrackets which maybe used either in square or-round bottomed rabbets vor grooves in the sash with equal security and facility.

Further objects relating todetails and econo mies of the invention will appear from the ldescription to follow. The invention is dened ,in the claims.

' A preferred embodiment of the yinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig.1 is a fragmentary view partially in vertical section and partially broken away, illustrating .the balance of my inventionv operatively associatedwith a window sash and its frame ,or casing.

Fig. .2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in longitudinal section of the balance of my invention villustrating .structural details thereof in section on line 2-2 of Fig. 5,- and at an intermediate step yin theV installation of the balancev in the sash. "Fig `3 is a fragmentary exploded View of the sash balances of myinvention.

Fig. 4`is an .enlarged fragmentaryview in horizontal section on lined-4 of Fig. 2. f

Fig'. 5 is an enlarged fragmentaryV View in horizontal section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an'enlarged horizontal sectional View on line If of Fig. 2.

In the accompanying drawing, I represents the 2 Windowframe or Vcasing and 2 a window sash which comprises vthe `side uprights or risersf3, top member 4 and bottom membery 5. These members have mortise and ten tenon" engageinents as is conventional in Window sashes,'the` uprightsjbeing vmortised toreceive tenons on` the ends'of the top and bottom members. A

Theedgeof the sash is grooved or rabbeted'a 6. Y'I lie balance designated'generally by the -nu-V meral 'I- comprises the tubular element-8 having the spiral "groove-like trackl 9 formed therein. This is in practice desirably formed by Isp'irally winding or; twisting a strip` of metal of suitable Width upon itself'.l

The tubular element is vprovided with a journal member IIB vat one end; the lower end v-in the structurev illustrated has thejournal member in the form of'ascrew machine piece tting within the tubular element and havinga reduced jour nal part II projecting from the tubular element and a reduced stud part I2 at its inner end.fl` The journal member inthe embodiment illustrated is provided with slot-like recesses I3 at its sides, the tubularelement being lockingly engaged with these'recesses by the indentations I4 andl also desirably by the stop portions I5 (see Fig. 5). At its other .endv the tubular element is provided with a bushing I6 which is secured by the stamp-'- 1 ing or indenting the tubular element at I1. (See ber I 0 and through it to the tubular member and.

at its upper end to the tensioning member I8 which constitutes an anchoring member for-the spring.` The upper end of the tensioning member projects from the lipperend ofthe tubular member and is provided `with a non-,circular head- I8I conforming to opening 22 in the bracketmember Y23. The outer end of the tensioning member is provided with a socket 24 shown by dottedlines in Fig. 2 and adapted toreceive a. wrench or adjusting tool indicated by dotted1 lines at 25 in Fig. 1.

The bracket 23 and the second bracket 26 are, the same in structure exceptv that the bracket 26V has a bearing opening 2'I preferably flanged as inwardly curved at serving also as stops limiting the driving penetration of the prongs 3l. These prongs are tapered and have outwardly facing serrations 32 on their side edges.A The longitudinal ribs 33 are of such length that they bridge the connecting zone 34 between the heads and the prongs, thus stiifening the brackets at a-` point or zone which is a weakened zone owing to f the merging of the head into the narrower driv- Y.

ing prongs. These brackets may be driven into the sashing and are commonly driven into the tenon portions of the top and bottom members and engage the edges of the mortisesV so that they serve as anchoringmeans for the parts :of j

the balance.

The torsion member comprises the sleeve 35 which embraces the tubular member, this sleeve being formed of a strap of metal having itsends 36 arranged through slots V3'! in the sprin'gable arm 38. This generally considered is the structure shown in the Luce patent, No. 2,370,867, issued March 6, 1945. VThe arm 3'8 is ,attached to the casing by means of the screw 3,9.` The follower lug Ml of the torsion member is formed by slitting the sleeve at 4I, the slits being parallel,

the part between the slits being struck inwardly to'provide the lfollower lug. The edges 42 of the follower lug are straightand engage the straight edges of the groove so that there is a minimum tendency for the follower lug to be forced out of the groove. c

lThe arm Y38 is preferably provided with a lug 3Jwhich is of advantage inthe mounting of the balance, the steps in mounting being :desirably as follows: Y u I l j With the balance tensioned and before instale lation of the sash in the frame, the torsionmember is positioned against the bracket 23 with the arm 38 in engagement with the end of the brack- Y et. Thisprevents movement of the torsion member when the sash is placed in the frame with the arm of the torsion member in its proper position to be attached to the jam of the frame. The lug 43 engaging the top of the basket holds the tor- V frame.- When the sash is raised, the lug 43 isv sheared off. This is of substantial advantage .in assembling.' v Y The-balance proper and all-its integral parts, when the projecting ends of both the spring and tube anchorand the adjusting axle have been insertedv into the circular and non-circular openings' respectively, seek and remain in perfect axial alignment without the possibility ofY a bind or excess friction of any of the integral parts with one another even if the brackets are driven in atv quite' a pronounced angle from their proper posi-- tion either transversely or perpendicularly tothe rabbet. ",I'his provides a full-V-floating assembly as there is no rigid mechanical fastening of thebal-r 4 ance to the sash, which produces smoother, quieter and more eicient operation.

A tension member can be adjusted at any time to properly tension the spring. The structure is very simple and economical in its parts. The parts of the assembled tubular elements are all concentric, thus greatly facilitating the manufacturing and assembling. The non-metallic piling rod 4d is preferably provided to prevent buckling of the spring.

, I have illustrated and described my invention in an embodiment which is highly satisfactory.

I have not attempted to illustrate certain modifications and adaptations which I contemplate as yit is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

vHaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a sash balance, comprising a rotatable tubular'element having a spiral track, a bushing secured within one end of said tubular element, a journal member secured within the other end of said tubular element and shouldered at its outer end toprovidea journal and its inner end to provide a spring engaging stud, a tensioning memberv disposed within said bushing and having a non-'circular bracket engaging portion at its outer end and provided with a collar coacting with'the inner end of the bushing and with a reduced spring engaging stud portion, a coiled spring having'its ends engaged withy said studs of said journal and tensioning members, and at tachi'ng brackets,v one bracket having a non-circular opening axially aligned with said tensioning memberand receiving the non-circular endof said tensioning member, said non-circular end being disengaged from said non-circular opening by axial movement of the tensioning member inwardly of the tubular element against the thrust 0f said spring to permit the tensioning member to be circularly adjusted to adjust the tension of the spring, the other bracket having a bearing for said journal member.'

2. In a sash balance,comprising a rotatable tubular-'element having a spiral track, a bushing secured within one end of said tubular element, a journal member secured within the other end of said tubular element, a tensioning member dis'- posed within said bushing vand having a noncir'cular bracket engaging portion at its outer end and provided with a stop, a coiled spring having its ends engaged with said journal and tensioning members, and attaching brackets, one bracket havinga non-circular opening axially alignedA 3. lA sash balance comprising a rotatable tubuf" lar element having a spiral track, a coiled -spring-' arranged within said, tubular'element, an axially adjustable tensioningmember by which ,one end of `said tubular Velement is .rotatably supported, said tensioning member beingprovided with a stop limiting its outward movement, one end of said spring beingconnected tovsaidtubularelement and the other to said tensioning member and acting to urge it outwardly', attaching brackets, said tensioning member being non-rotatably engageable With one bracket and being adapted t0 receive a tool whereby it may be disengaged from its bracket by axial movement of the tensioning member against the thrust of said spring and the tension of said spring adjusted.

4. In a sash balance comprising a rotatable tubular element having a spiral track, a bushing secured within one end of said tubular element, a journal member secured within the other end of said tubular element and provided with a spring engaging stud at its inner end, a tensioning member disposed within said bushing and having noncircular bracket engaging portion at its outer end and provided with a stop coacting with the inner end of the bushing and provided with an engaging stud, a coiled spring having its ends engaged with said studs of said journal and tensioning members, and attaching brackets, one of the brackets having a non-circular opening axially aligned with said tensioning member and receiving the non-circular end of said tensioning member, said tensioning member being adapted to receive a tool and to be disengaged from the noncircular opening |by movement axially of the opening and against the thrust of said spring, the other bracket having a bearing opening for the journal of said journal member.

5. A sash balance comprising a rotatable tubular element having a spiral track, and a tensioning member at one end on which it is rotatably supported, a coiled spring arranged within said tubular element and having one end connected to said tensioning member and its other end to said tubular member, and supporting brackets, one-.of the brackets non-rotatably receiving said tensioning member, said tensioning member being adapted to be disengaged from said bracket by axial movement of the tensioning member against the thrust of said spring to permit tensioning adjustment of the spring, the spring acting to urge the tensioning member into engagement with its coacting bracket, the other bracket rotatably supporting the said tubular element.

6. A sash balance comprising a rotatable tubular element having a spiral track, and a tensioning member at one end on which it is rotatably supported, a coiled spring arranged within said tubularv element and having one end connected to said tension member and its other end to said tubular member, and supporting brackets, one of the brackets non-rotatably receiving said ten-` sioning member, said tensioning member being adapted to be disengaged from said bracket vby axial movement 0f the tensioning member against the thrust of said spring to permit tensioning adjustment of the spring, the other bracket rotatably supporting the said tubular element.

7. An attaching bracket for a sash balance comprising integral head and drive prong portions formed as an integral stamping, the head portions being provided with side flanges curved inwardly at their ends and constituting drive stops and centering elements, the prong portion being tapered and having serrated edges, the head being adapted to receive a part of the balance to be supported, there being a reinforcing rib extending across the merging zone of the head and prong.

8. An attaching bracket for a sash balance comprising integral head and drive prong portions formed as an integral stamping, the head portion being provided with side Iianges constituting drive stops, the prong portion being tapered and having serrated edges, the head having means to receive an end portion of the balance to support the same against lateral displacement.

9. An attaching bracket for a sash balance comprising integral head and prong portions formed as an integral stamping, the vhead portions being provided with side flanges constituting stop elements therefor, the prong portion being tapered and having serrated edges, the head having an opening between the flanges adapted to receive a part of the balance to be supported, there being a reinforcing rib extending across the merging zone of the head and prong.

10. An attaching bracket for a sash balance comprising integral head and prong portions r formed as an integral stamping, the head portions being provided with side anges constitutH f ing stopping elements therefor, the prong being tapered and having serrated edges, and the head having an opening between the flanges adapted to receive a part of the balance to be supported.

EDWARD H. BROWN. f

REFERENoEs CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,370,867 Luce Mar. 6, 1945 2,384,980 Viehweger Sept. 18, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS` Number Country Date 514,304 France Nov. 13, 1920 

